Ethics – June 9, 2024
On behalf of all children
We demonstrate our respect for the children, young people, families and communities we serve by upholding the highest ethical standards in everything we do. This commitment is reflected in our compliance with the Global Code of Conduct and Ethics, our participatory and accountable approach to programme management, and our dedication to transparency and continuous improvement.
We work in accordance with the requirements of institutional donors and internationally recognised humanitarian standards. We are also committed to applying the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) across our operations, ensuring that the people we serve remain at the centre of our work.
Our commitments for children and communities
- Treating all children, young people and communities with respect and dignity, listening to their perspectives and valuing their aspirations.
- Building relationships based on trust, mutual respect and collaboration with children, families and communities.
- Minimizing any potential harm arising from our interventions and continuously strengthening our safeguarding and risk-management practices.
- Being transparent about our role, our decisions and our results, while remaining honest about challenges, lessons learnt and areas for improvement.
- Sharing information openly about the approaches and methods that enable positive change.
- Acting as a trusted, credible and accountable partner to the communities and stakeholders with whom we work.
- Ensuring that children, young people, families and community members can participate meaningfully in our programmes, influence decisions and benefit fairly from our actions.
- Empowering children and communities to contribute actively to decisions that affect their lives through safe, inclusive and meaningful participation.
- Providing clear and accessible information about Terre des hommes’ mission, activities, expected behaviours and standards of conduct.
Organization-wide policies
In its strategic framework, Terre des hommes reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that the organisation’s Global Code of Conduct and Ethics is understood, embraced and respected by all employees, volunteers, partners, consultants and suppliers.
Global Code of conduct
The Global Code of Conduct and Ethics establishes the standards of behaviour expected of everyone working for, or on behalf of, Terre des hommes. Applicable across the entire organisation, it reflects our mission, values and ethical principles, and sets out the responsibilities of employees and associated parties, including volunteers, partners, consultants and suppliers.
The Code outlines the key policies, standards and directives that guide our work and provides a clear framework for ethical decision-making, accountability and professional conduct.
Read the Global code of conduct and Ethics
Safeguarding mechanism
Terre des hommes’ safeguarding framework is fully aligned with the Foundation’s mission, values, guiding principles and ethical commitments as set out in the Global Code of Conduct and Ethics. Its purpose is to ensure the protection, dignity and well-being of all beneficiaries, community members and staff, regardless of age.
Guided by the principle of “do no harm”, the framework reinforces the Foundation’s zero-tolerance approach to all forms of abuse, exploitation, harassment and misconduct, while supporting compliance with recognised humanitarian standards on quality and accountability.
- The Safeguarding Policy
- Prevention and awareness measures
- Safe reporting and response mechanisms
Raise a concern
Every individual associated with Terre des hommes has a responsibility to report any actual, suspected or potential breach of our policies, ethical standards or safeguarding commitments.
Concerns can be reported through the Foundation’s dedicated reporting mechanism by email at [email protected] or via the online platform at www.concern.tdh.org.
All reports, regardless of their perceived severity, are managed through a centralised process coordinated by the Foundation’s headquarters in Lausanne. Reports may be submitted anonymously and are handled in accordance with the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, protection of individuals and data privacy.
Irrespective of the level of seriousness, reports are centralized at the foundation’s Lausanne headquarters, where they are then dealt with. The procedure stipulates that anonymous reports are handled and processed in accordance with the principles of confidentiality, protection of individuals and data, and impartiality.
Other policies
Promoting inclusion, diversity and gender equality is an integral part of our work. We are committed to addressing discrimination, exclusion and power imbalances, both within our organisation and in the environments where we operate.